Viral Hunt

CHAPTER3

ELENA’S POV

There was a large expanse of white. To my left, to my right, and even above me. There was no sky. Just a white background that seemed like a movie set.

As if that wasn’t creepy enough. Everyone present was dressed in black and standing casually as though what we were all witnessing was normal.

I blanked as I scrambled to make it to my feet. Throwing wary glances around me. My breath was hitched in my throat as I wasn’t sure what to do.

The decision was made for me in no time as a bright screen suddenly appeared. Suspended in the air.

My gaze narrowed as I tried to see beyond the white light that was projecting. It was to no avail, as a large voice suddenly resounded.

“Okay, looks like our last guest has finally arrived,” the voice let out. And I could feel numerous gazes lock on to me instantly.

Their gazes differed. Some held disdain, some curiosity and some carried something I had never felt before. But what I did know was that it made my skin crawl.

But amongst all those gazes, there was one that remained indifferent. Like a crane among a flock of chickens.

He wasn’t the tallest, but his presence was undeniable. It was as though everything was under his control at all times.

Unable to help myself, I glanced in his direction. A soft gasp escaped my lips as I almost lost myself in his deep blue pools.

I looked again to see that he had already turned away. His gaze solely focused on the screen that had popped up.

“Welcome one and all to VIRAL HUNT,” the voice rang out once again. It almost felt as though I heard it snicker when it said the last two words.

“The greatest game of life and death in the entire universe,” the voice continued, as a wave of confusion washed over me.

Even as humans had attempted to search the cosmos for signs of life, it had always been fruitless. The casual words the voice dropped were enough to send scientists into a frenzy.

“I know what you’re all thinking and the answer is yes. There are beings beyond your solar system. Beings beyond your imagination. Godlike existences,” the voice continued in an imperious tone.

A cold shiver ran down my spine at his words as the implications were too big to digest. That changes everything.

“The random virus? Was it their fault?” a gruff voice rang out. I turned to see a bear of a man with a beard crowding his features.

He pointed to the screen as he shouted. And like clockwork, we all awaited the answer.

A low chuckle resounded across the room, before it transformed into a raucous laughter. So much so that the space we were in shook continuously.

My hands were plastered onto my ears as it felt as though my eardrums were about to burst. It wasn’t just me. More than half our population did the same.

We endured the noise for a while before it abruptly stopped. “It’s called viral hunt do a reason humans,” the voice taunted.

I felt my vision go blurry. So the destruction and despair that ensued in my family was all for the sake of some sick game.

Blood blood boiled as my chest felt stuffy. I had the urge to scream. To throw something. To break something. Especially on the head of the owner of the voice.

“Bastard! I lost my wife to that virus,” the owner of the gruff voice spat. His tone heightened with his gaze bloodred.

“Tough luck, humans,” the voice rang out in a disinterested tone as it went on to say, “You’re about to be thrust into a wide world. You’ll fight tooth and nail to survive. And if you do, what awaits you is the power to wish for anything.”

The voice turned enticing. As though it was trying to arouse the greed that laid dormant in the hearts of men.

It definitely worked. The restlessness of some of the people around me was evident to see as its words echoed off the walls.

“Yes. Anything. Power to take over the cosmos, to rule over every living thing,” it droned on, before its tone dropped to reveal its final offer.

“Even power to bring the dead back to life,” the increasingly hurried breaths of the people gathered seemed to excite it in some way as a raucous laughter followed.

My gaze darted as I took note of the desire and hunger that burned within the depths of their gazes.

I took note of the word he used. Survival. That meant that a lot of people were going to die. Some might be aware, and others might just choose to ignore.

The urge to refuse burned at the tip of my tongue. I don’t know how the others got here. But I doubt most of them had to be sacrificed.

Just as my lips parted to object, a cold voice beat me to it. “Not interested. Send me back quickly.”

I turned to see a young man with an air of pride around him. He had sharp features coupled with glowing skin that was reminiscent of the era before the viral descent.

It didn’t take too long for me to figure out his position. He was most definitely a part of the wealthy population that holed themselves in zones not affected by the virus.

After chasing everyone, they consider lower class away to go fend for themselves. My fists clenched at my sides as that was what happened to my family.

“What was that?” The voice rang out after a while. It’s tone placid. A cold shiver ran down my spine as soon as I heard it.

It was different. Much different than the voice used in the announcement, or the seduction. This was something dangerous.

And that young man was at the center of it. “I said Take me ba-,” He didn’t have time to finish before a blinding ray of light shot from above.

Leaving nothing but a blackened mark where it once stood. A bloodcurdling scream resounded. It was followed by gasps of fear as people scrambled to get away from the remains.

A wave of terror overcame me as I stood, trembling. I was about to object. That could have been me.

“That’s everything. Good luck players,” the voice rang out in a disinterested tone as a bright light encapsulated out figures.

“No!”

Shouts of terror resounded as we all feared the worst.